Dancer Choreographs
a Career in Arts Administration

Marla Hahn, MBA 2009

Career Specialization: Arts Administration
Internship: Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wis.

Marla Hahn’s combined interest in dance and international affairs had taken her around the world and back again. Still, she found she wanted more. After attending the French ballet academy, “Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional” in Clermont-Ferrand, Hahn received grants from the French Education Nationale and the Austrian Fulbright Commission to teach English in Europe, which gave her the opportunity to perform in places like Barcelona, Vienna, and île de la Réunion (off the coast of Madagascar). She went on to work as Logistics Director and international liaison for the European Show Dance Union (ESDU), winning choreographic titles and helping the ESDU develop a program to send European youth to a major talent competition in Hollywood, Calif.  Despite the travel, and the exposure to the dance world she loved, Hahn realized she wanted to play a broader role.

“I was teaching and performing, but came to realize that the administrative side was really exciting to me. I loved being a part of the whole production: building up to it, learning about the process, and then putting on that final show and seeing the results. It triggered something, but I didn’t know what it was. I started looking into different educational programs. Then I learned about UW-Madison and this unique program that offers an MBA in Arts Administration.

“I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed the very classes that I thought were going to be the most challenging—like finance, and especially data analysis.  Now I look for unique methods for integrating those concepts into arts organizations.  It’s exciting to bring something new to the field. There are so many ways that the concepts and techniques can be applied, and I feel I’m on the cutting edge by studying here. It’s opened my mind to new ways of thinking. I love the idea of using my business background to help an organization stimulate the arts, culture, and economy of a community.

“I would recommend the Wisconsin MBA to people who are really motivated and want to contribute to a community, because all of us are proud of this program and want to make it the best that it can be. We want people who are excited about what they will study, and ready to push each other to be better.”